Question about Law and Legal Studies Degree

[Gbd12817]

2023 Appointee, here. I've been thinking about majors and came across the Law and Legal studies degree. That subject has always interested me, but outside of the military I can't think of any use that degree would be, aside from prep for Law School. Is this essentially a pure PreLaw degree with no use on its own, or is there a way to find use for it should I decide not to get out of the Army early and not pursue a full career?

Also, I know it would probably help if I were trying to become a JAG (which I haven't ruled out) but that would still require Law School, and my intention is to branch Infantry, so I am primarily focused on what use it may have in the civilian world. Thank you for your responses.

 

[humblebeginnings]

@Gbd12817 Purely speculation on my part but I think it could help if pursuing a law enforcement carrier.

 

[MidCakePa]

Your major is what you make if it. Study what you're passionate about, because if you don't, it'll be sheer misery slogging through your major on top of all the other obligations you'll have as a cadet.

No matter your major, probably the most important aspect is that you'll get a B.S. with strong engineering bent. The problem-solving, critical-thinking, analytical, quantitative, technical approach that this fosters will be invaluable on active duty -- and your major will be secondary.

Once you leave active duty, you may or may not want to work in the field of your major. That's perfectly normal -- and true of graduates of any college or major. But that doesn't mean your major was a waste. We all can apply learnings from being an English or Biology or History or Engineering or Legal Studies major, no matter what our job is. It just may not seem obvious now. But anyone with a few years of work experience will attest: We tend to overestimate the value of our major and underestimate the value of non-major classes.

Finally, if you're asking us on SAF for suggestions of a major, you have a lot of soul-searching to do. And know that whatever you decide now, there's a decent chance you'll change your mind once you're at USMA. The only thing keeping you from changing your major more than once -- like so many at civilian schools -- is USMA's strict four-year timeline.

 

[Gbd12817]

Finally, if you're asking us on SAF for suggestions of a major, you have a lot of soul-searching to do. And know that whatever you decide now, there's a decent chance you'll change your mind once you're at USMA. The only thing keeping you from changing your major more than once -- like so many at civilian schools -- is USMA's strict four-year timeline.

I'll keep all that in mind, thank you. I've removed the last sentence after realizing it doesn't represent what I was asking. I do have a good idea for the plan I want to pursue should I leave the army, but I'm open for it to change.